Food allergies can be a real drag. Nobody likes being the person at the restaurant inquiring about the ingredients. It’s equally disappointing to arrive to a party and be unable to eat any of the food at the buffet table. However, most food allergies are caused by eight different foods. Could you be allergic to any of these items?

Cow’s Milk

One of the most common childhood food allergies is caused by cow’s milk. Babies can react to the proteins in cow’s milk as early as six months old, but most children outgrow the condition by the age of three. However, some children and adults remain allergic to cow’s milk, experiencing symptoms such as gut inflammation, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea.

A milk allergy is actually different from lactose intolerance. When someone is lactose intolerant, they have difficulties digesting the sugars in milk. A milk allergy is a reaction to the protein and could potentially kill someone.

Eggs

It’s quite common for children to be allergic to eggs, and like milk allergies, most children outgrow them. For those who don’t outgrow their egg allergies, they could only be allergic to egg whites or egg yolks. Egg white allergies are more common because they contain proteins that trigger some people’s immune systems.

Tree Nuts

About one percent of the US population is allergic to tree nuts, which includes:

Almonds

Cashews

Pistachios

Pine Nuts

Walnuts

Macadamia Nuts

Brazil Nuts

It’s important to take tree nut allergies seriously because they can be deadly. If you have a nut allergy, avoid all products made with nuts, including butters and oils. You also want to carry an epipen with you at all times, which could save your life if you accidentally consume any tree nut products. Epi-pens provide you with a shot of adrenaline that could reverse the effects of the allergy if you are having a severe reaction.

Peanuts

Believe it or not, peanuts actually fall into the legume family and not the tree nut family. Peanut allergies start in early childhood and can be outgrown by a small percentage of kids. Like tree nut allergies, peanut allergies can be extreme, so consult with an allergist for further information.

Shellfish

A protein called tropomyosin is mostly responsible for shellfish allergies, as well as other proteins arginine kinase and myosin. Most people do not outgrow shellfish allergies, and symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting.

Wheat

Wheat allergies are not the same as celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivities. People with wheat allergies react to the proteins in wheat. Celiacs react specifically to gluten, which is also present in barley, rye and some oats as well. About 20 percent of people with wheat allergies are also allergic to other grains.

Soy

Soy allergies are most common in children, although most of them outgrow them by the time they’re ten years old. However, soybeans are found in many different foods, so make sure to check the ingredient list in different foods before eating them.

Fish

Most commonly, people are allergic to tuna, halibut and salmon. However, if you are allergic to a certain fish, it’s best to avoid seafood all together. Fish allergies usually last through the entirety of a person’s life.

If you have food allergies, take charge of your health and learn as much as you can to avoid any harmful reactions. At Ameriden International, we take our health very seriously, which is why we offer the highest quality online health supplements, including our rhodiola supplement, Rosavin®. Shop our product selection at our health food store.